[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage":3,"chapter-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-621":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},148326,246,"Chapter 620: Peaceful Moment","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-621",621,"\u003Cp>CH620 Peaceful Moment\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex quietly stepped out of the mansion into the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bent down almost theatrically, brushing his fingers across the grass and flowers, taking in their scent for a moment longer than necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, he walked over to a large tree overlooking the garden and unceremoniously dropped down against its trunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands locked behind his head, one leg crossed over the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Yes... this is nice,’ Alex thought. ’Life shouldn’t always be at full speed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Sometimes, it’s good to stop... and enjoy the moment.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile touched his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Though, it’s still not quite as good as resting beneath Lord Bonsai’s crown. But this will do.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, he drifted off into slumberland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poke...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light sensation brushed against his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex’s eyes slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing he saw... was a beautiful face hovering above him, watching with quiet amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you poking my face, milady?\" Alex asked, catching the wandering finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You looked so peaceful... I couldn’t resist, Master,\" Udara replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her smile soft, yet carrying a subtle, teasing edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, Alex froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his gaze flickered around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards who should have been patrolling the area were nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’...I see.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back at Udara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without warning, he pulled her gently into his arms and shifted their positions beneath the tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you admit your mistake?\" he asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know what you’re talking about,\" Udara replied innocently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But her smile only deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex felt a surge blood rush through his body down his nether regions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew what she was doing but he didn’t bother putting up his guard against it. However, it seemed his mind was too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his body fell prey to Udara’s antics, his mind was still incredibly clear, yet he chose to indulge the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning closer, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara responded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a soft gentle kiss, the movements became increasingly rough... passionate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, surprisingly, it was Alex that accepted defeat first, pulling back to catch his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re unusually bold today,\" he said, studying her enamouring expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara tilted her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you dislike it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her smile lingered, playful and provocative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as if accepting a silent challenge, he leaned in once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the quiet battle of lips and tongues between them resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alas, he had underestimated the ’novice’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he realised it, the situation had reversed, and he found himself pinned beneath her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer their playful struggle continued, the more Alex found himself losing ground—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the more Udara’s presence began to overwhelm his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’No... I can’t lose like this,’ he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he resorted to a trump card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His hands, which had been holding her in place, began to wander— tracing along her form with deliberate intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he struck, pinching at two particularly sensitive spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara gasped, her composure breaking as she instinctively pulled back, one hand moving to her bosom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint blush spread rapidly across her cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex seized the opening immediately, reversing their positions and pinning her down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See?\" he grinned, victorious. \"If you’re not ready to get burned... don’t play with fire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to press his advantage, when suddenly, both of them sensed something and froze their movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, they quickly separated, straightening their clothes as if nothing had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did a thought cross Alex’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’...Wait.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’We’re husband and wife.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Why are we acting like we got caught doing something wrong?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Eleanore stepped out into the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes lit up when she spotted them and she began walking over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after a few steps, she paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze flickered between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knowing smile slowly formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What were the two of you doing?\" she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We were... sparring,\" Alex replied smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He casted a teasing glance at Udara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara’s blush deepened instantly, spreading all the way to her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stomped hard on Alex’s foot before turning away, hiding her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eleanore’s smile widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? I didn’t know you had it in you. Making your move out here in the open...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She winked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should I get some pointers from you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Or perhaps I should inform big sister Zora?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Udara immediately grabbed her arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please don’t!\" she pleaded. \"I’ll die of embarrassment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both Alex and Eleanore burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew all too well— If Zora got wind of this, she would milk it relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex was usually her favourite target, but Udara and Eleanore were far from exempt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Udara, in particular, was far too easy to tease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after beginning to come out from her shell, following the Heaven–Earth trials, she still stood no chance against the Ice Empress’s merciless teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t laugh,\" Udara muttered, lightly hitting Alex’s shoulder. \"This is your fault.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them lingered in that warm, familial moment for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Too bad Zora isn’t here,’ Alex thought. ’That would have made it complete.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this life, perhaps his greatest fortune wasn’t power, but the fact that his wives genuinely got along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It spared him the usual chaos and drama that often came with polygamous marriages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where’s Zora?\" Alex asked. \"I haven’t seen her since I came out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She went to the city’s administrative building with Silver, Havel, and Sergeant Lopota to handle some permits for our expansion.\" Udara replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Permits?\" Alex raised an eyebrow. \"What do we need permits for?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eleanore stepped in to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re expanding the shop, so we need a larger space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Mercenary Association also advised us to establish a guild building. So big sis went to see if she could secure a property large enough to handle both.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BloodIron City had a distinct advantage over most settlements— Its multiple oasis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reasons Alex still didn’t fully understand, the city was able to house five separate oasis within its city limits— each supplying one of its five districts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this abundance didn’t mean total freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water was still tightly regulated, leading to other related constraints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the most notable was population control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than directly limiting the number of residents, the city administration controlled the number of buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which, in turn, controlled how many people could live in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, without shelter, no one could stay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an indirect but highly effective system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t simply construct a new building —or even renovate an existing one— without official approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Permits were required.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But like any bureaucratic system, it came with its own share of bottlenecks... and corruption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Navigating it required experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately for the Fortuna party, Zora was more than capable of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex exhaled softly and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you are already expanding the business, then can I assume we have already caught the eye of the smaller fish?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We have,\" Eleanore smiled. \"I was just about to inform you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ve established a cooperative relationship with the Jadewell Merchant Company.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We recently sent over the product you suggested, and the company’s chairwoman, Lady Rosa Mercier, has invited us for a meeting this afternoon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex nodded, then turned to Udara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have we verified the information?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As much as possible,\" Udara replied. \"There’s about an eighty percent chance that Baron Luth Belloc’s intelligence is accurate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So even if it’s off,\" Alex pressed, \"it won’t be by much?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Udara confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good.\" Alex nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned back to Eleanore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When are you leaving?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In half an hour,\" she replied. \"I’d like to arrive early—perhaps establish a few additional connections before meeting Lady Mercier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex raised a hand slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t overextend. Let things develop naturally. We don’t want it to be obvious that we’re targeting them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eleanore waved him off lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Relax. It’s just a business meeting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you two want to come along?\" she asked. \"Or would you prefer to continue where you left off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think we should con—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re going!\" Udara cut in sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Alex could get another word in, she grabbed Eleanore’s arm and began pulling her away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex chuckled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Still thin-skinned,’ he thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze drifted upward to the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But she’s improving.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It won’t be long now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small smile formed on his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, Alex and his wives set out for the meeting with a modest escort of four guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they travelled, Alex couldn’t help but glance at Udara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seductive woman from earlier was completely gone. In her place stood –or sat— his ever-composed, stoic Shadow Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He almost laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to tease her, but a subtle, pleading glance from her stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alex smiled inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Fair enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’It’s more fun teasing you in private anyway.’ He thought inwardly as he accepted her plea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, after travelling through BloodIron’s wide and surprisingly clean roads, their carriage arrived at the Jadewell Merchant Company’s private quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>",1509,"2026-05-29T03:49:40.912Z","2026-06-01T04:29:07.188Z",1,"novelbin.me","321ae8a98d0e7568b4afbedd9081013909368ad92d733e1fd68883576293a546","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-622","re-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-chapter-620",692,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fre-tales-of-the-rune-tech-sage-cover.jpg"]